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Page 36
his children. There is nothing I will not do for Simon's children and for Simon's wife."
"It is you who are stupid," she flared back, her color mounting and her eyes bright with gold and green lights. "I cannot collect a debt my husband did not acknowledge. You idiot! I would choke now to ask a favor of you."
"I am an idiot?" he roared, and suddenly began to laugh. "No. I will not quarrel with you. Not if I die for it. Not if I burst." He paused, took a deep breath, and said in a pleasant, indifferent tone of voice, "Tell me what worries you about Joanna."
"I would not tell you my own name," Alinor hissed.
"Come, Alinor," Ian wheedled, "there is no favor in talking of Joanna. What could I do for her? That is woman's business."
She cast a fulminating glance at him, and he put his hands together prayerfully and said, "Please?" with so spurious and wistful an expression that Alinor began to laugh and put out a hand to him. He rose to take it.
"Forgive me. I spoke with more passion than sense. I never felt a weight of obligation. Simon and I could not have been friends as we were if I did. But you know I love Adam and Joanna."
Alinor's quick glance took in the tension under the pretense of calm. Something was eating Ian. It was no part of a friend to refuse to follow his lead.
"The problem is that we are very rich," she said slowly. "Simon was Sheriff of Sussex for many years, and we are not expensive people. Money poured in and we bought land. We could do it because Richard trusted Simon. Then there was even more money and"
"For God's sake, Alinor" Ian protested.
"No, no. I know you do not care for that, but that is where the problem with Joanna lies. I am not and never was a great lady."
He started to protest again, and Alinor held up a hand to quell him.

 
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